Scotty McCreery: 21 Under 21 (2012)

No. 4: Scotty McCreery

Why He's Hot: Which country artist enjoyed the best first-week sales tally of 2011? Just a few months removed from winning "American Idol," Scotty McCreery became the answer to that question, and though the 18-year-old has yet to place a single in the top 10 on the country charts, the North Carolina native has developed a very loyal fan base at a young age. After his debut album "Clear as Day" helped him claim awards from the Academy of Country Music Awards as well as the CMT Music Awards upon its October release, McCreery announced that his debut holiday set, "Christmas with Scotty McCreery," will hit stores on October 16. This year, McCreery will ring in the holidays as one of country's proven young stars.